Love of the Game by Lori Wilde Interview and Giveaway

A sexy sports superstar discovers
his body isn’t the only thing that needs healing in this newest Stardust, Texas
novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde…

With major league good looks and talent, Dallas Gunslingers relief pitcher Axel
Richmond was living the good life. Even if the roar of the crowd could never
distract him from the loss of his young son. But now with an injured shoulder
and his career on the line, Axel is stuck recuperating at a ranch in Stardust,
Texas . . . striking out only with his gorgeous physical therapist.

Kasha Carlyle has one week to get Axel back in action or she can kiss her
much-needed job with the Gunslingers goodbye. And any chance to seek custody of
the orphaned half-sister she never knew existed. She quickly learns that Axel’s
guarded heart also needs healing . . . requiring all kinds of sneaky plays and
sexy moves in extra innings.

New York
Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde has sold seventy-eight works
of fiction to four major New York Publishing houses.

Her first NYT bestseller, the third book in her Twilight, Texas series, The
First Love Cookie Club has been optioned for a television movie. The town of
Granbury, Texas, upon which her fictional town of Twilight, Texas is loosely
based, honors Lori with an annual Twilight, Texas weekend each Christmas.

A popular writing instructor, Lori is a two time RITA finalist and has four
times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. She's won the
Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Golden
Quill, the Lories, and The More than Magic.

Interview:

Q. Lori, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today!

Your new release, LOVE OF THE GAME is the third in the Stardust, Texas Series, which features some very handsome baseball playing heroes. What kind of research goes into writing a new series, especially a series with professional sports involved?

A. Hi, thank you for having me. Whenever I start a new book, I do some preliminary research on the setting, the background, and the characters’ occupation. Then I dive into writing. If something comes up during the writing that I don’t know the answer to, I’ll stop and do some quick research. Then once I finish the first draft and jump into revisions, I’ll look for plot hole and missing pieces of research at that point too. Research can involve Internet searches, talking to people in the professions I’m researching, watching TV programs, going to the library, attending an event, or even hands on learning.

Q. You are probably most well known for your Twilight Texas Series, along with the Jubilee Texas Series (my favorite) and the more recent, Cupid Texas Series. Do you have one series or set of characters that was your favorite to write? Even a couple? Or one title that took the most out of you emotionally to write?

A. The most taxing title for me to write was CHRISTMAS AT TWILIGHT, which features characters struggling with mental illness. Several members of my family have struggled with mental disorders. This book took an emotional as I had toput myself back into heart-wrenching situations I’d experienced. But, it was also very cathartic.

Q. What many readers might not know about you is that you taught a romance course online, which was not only so informative but very personal when it came to feedback and critique. (I took the class and LOVED IT). If you have ONE piece of advice for aspiring romance writers, what would that be?

A. Thanks for the compliment. I love to teach writing. I’m actually teaching a class like that again in October through Writers University. https://writeruniv.wordpress.com

My one piece of advice is to get the book done. Just write it. Then write another one and another one. That’s what it takes. Consistent production.

Q. I read that you are newly certified as a yoga instructor. What have you found to be the biggest benefit by doing yoga? Do you think that it has helped with your creativity when it comes to writing?

A. The benefits of yoga have been nothing short of life altering. Yoga has given me my health, sanity and creativity back. I’d lost myself in work and forgotten who I was. Yoga brought me back to me. I’m calmer, healthier, more balanced. It helps me lead a better life.

Q. What are you working on next? Another Stardust Romance or are you venturing into a new series? Visiting an older series?

A. I’m going back to Cupid, Texas to write about four brothers from a ranching dynasty and the four Native American sisters they fall in love with.